Two Different Chassis Options, New Engine for LMP2 Competitors Coming Online at 2029 Rolex 24 At Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The next generation of Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) race cars will begin competing in the 2029 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, one year after the new cars debut in all Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO)/Le Mans Endurance Management (LMEM) championships as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The new LMP2 cars – which are eligible to compete in the WeatherTech Championship via an exclusive licensing agreement between IMSA and the ACO – will be offered by two approved chassis constructors, Ligier Automotive and ORECA. All will be powered by 460 kW (approximately 616 horsepower), turbocharged, V6 engines supplied by Gibson Technology. Aerodynamic characteristics are expected to be similar to the current generation LMP2 cars, which debuted in 2017.
The WeatherTech Championship LMP2 class will continue to use the current ORECA LMP2 07 chassis and Gibson V8 engines through the end of the 2028 season before shifting to the new cars at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2029.
“One of our top priorities is to provide IMSA competitors with plenty of runway to plan for the future,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “This announcement provides clear direction for current and prospective future LMP2 competitors on the timeline for using existing equipment, as well as the opportunity to plan for investment in new cars for the 2029 season.
“The current LMP2 class has become robust in the WeatherTech Championship. We expect to see that continue through the end of the current generation in 2028 and into a strong debut for the new cars coming in 2029.”
In its unveiling of the next generation LMP2 cars earlier this year, the ACO noted that the “new generation reflects a strong commitment to cost control, with limited and carefully managed increases.”